Approved by: ______________________________Purpose:To establish guidelines and understanding for personnel operating as a Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) at the scene of an incident to facilitate the rescue of trapped or injured firefighters.Scope:This guideline shall apply to operations in which firefighters are placed at increased risk of injury or death. The size and number of RIT(s) will be flexible, based upon the type, size, and complexity of the event.Guideline:*Vital operations shall not be delayed in order to staff RIT.A RIT may be assigned at any incident at the discretion of the Incident Command (IC). Working structure fires or any special operations incident where immediate danger of injury is present, shall have a RIT established as soon as resources are available. RIT should be comprised of a minimum of three firefighters (one RIT Officer/Team Leader and two firefighters). Each member of the RIT falls under the command of the designated RIT Officer/Team Leader.The RIT will report to and be given orders by the IC or his designee. In the case of a large scale operation, RIT may report to the Division Officer of that area.The RIT Officer/Team Leader will be the only member reporting to the IC.The RIT Officer/Team Leader shall remain in visual or verbal contact with the IC or Division Officer at all times throughout the incident.The RIT should assemble in the vicinity of the IC or Division Officer. After being assigned, the RIT shall assemble their RIT tools and SCBA, any specialty tools that may be necessary, determine the locations of ground ladders, aerial ladders, and EMS.All tools the RIT team assembles shall be placed on a tarp. THESE TOOLS ARE FOR RIT USE ONLY.The RIT Officer/Team Leader shall determine what tools are necessary. At a minimum, the following tools should be assembled.Full PPE, radio, and box light for each RIT memberSet of ironsSledge hammerChainsaw/ Combination blade sawRope bagRIT air bottleTICAttic LadderPersonnel on the fireground should have already placed ground ladders for Crews operating on the interior. If this has not occurred, RIT can place ladders as long as it does not interrupt their assignment.After the announcement of a firefighter in trouble, all Officers/Team Leaders or to conduct a PAR of the members in their crew. Once the PAR is conducted, only report personnel missing to the IC. RIT will operate on the assigned fireground channel. Do not overrun the channel with reports of all personnel accounted for unless asked by the IC.If a firefighter becomes lost, disoriented, injured, or trapped the Division Officer of Incident Commander will be notified immediately of the MAYDAY. Upon hearing the MAYDAY, RIT shall not deploy until the IC orders it. It is part of the Rit’s responsibility to listen for firefighters in need of help. If the RIT recognizes that firefighter(s) is/are in need of assistance the RIT Officer/Team Leader is to notify the IC or Division Officer that help is being called for and that they are ready to deploy.Once a MAYDAY has been called, all personnel on the fireground will be transferred to a different frequency. The only personnel that will transmit on the distressed firefighter’s original frequency shall be the downed firefighter, the RIT, and the Incident Commander.If the distressed firefighter(s) can communicate via radio, the IC shall have them transmit a LUNARL- Location- area, floorU- Unit assigned toN- Name/names of firefighter(s) needing helpA- Action needed for rescueR- Reason/Resources- what is wrong and what is needed to facilitate rescueIf the firefighter(s) is not located quickly by interior crews, RIT will be deployed to the last known location. The search and rescue shall expand from that location.After deployment of the first RIT, the IC shall assemble another RIT. This RIT will be deployed at the discretion of the IC. Additional resources should be called for as deemed necessary.Once RIT has been deployed, the IC will notify dispatch that a MAYDAY has been called and RIT has been deployed. Dispatch will communicate the MAYDAY and that RIT has been deployed over the dispatch and operational frequencies being used at the Incident. Dispatch will advise that all Companies stand by with radio traffic unless there is an emergency.

The RIT event will be over once the firefighter(s) have been rescued from the situation. The IC will be notified on the completion of the rescue. The IC will notify dispatch that the rescue has been completed. Dispatch will communicate over the dispatch and operational frequencies that the RIT has completed the rescue and that normal communications can resume.RIT shall not be used to relieve Operational units until the incident has been declared contained, and the risk to personnel operating at the incident has been assessed. This assessment shall be performed by the IC, RIT Officer/Team Leader, Operations Officer and Safety Officer if assigned, and Division Officers. Operations will be declared safe by the above mentioned for the RIT to be relieved of its duties.If for some reason the IC determines that use of the RIT in an immediate necessity, it can be utilized. A second RIT shall be formed immediately. This should only be utilized in extreme situations and as a last resort.To be a member of RIT, firefighters shall have a minimum of one year experience with the department, and have completed departmental RIT training.